Krisna kirbyi (Kirkaldy)

Viraktamath, C. A., 2006, Revision of the leafhopper tribe Krisnini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 1338, pp. 1-32 : 18

Krisna kirbyi (Kirkaldy)

Figs 28 , 60–64

Gypona striata Kirby 1891: 171 . Lectotype ♂ here designated, Sri Lanka: Pundaloya [BMNH, examined].

Titia ? kirbyi Kirkaldy 1900: 294 , new name for Gypona striata Kirby 1891 , not Burmeister 1839.

Krisna striata (Kirby) : Distant 1908: 298, fig.190.

Krisna kirbyi (Kirkaldy) : China 1926: 350.

Pale greenish ochraceous. Anterior margin of vertex red, with black margin interrupted medially, variable; small dark brown spot at apex of clavus of forewing. Fore tibia tinged with pink. Disc of vertex slightly depressed, transversely ridged, with median sulcus. Upper part of frons depressed, head slightly foliaceous in males, less so in females. Transclypeal sulcus absent. Pronotum flattish. Eighth sternite of male with almost straight hind margin, covered with numerous setae.

Male genitalia: Pygophore elongate, ventral process caudally pointed, slightly uneven in width, at base broadened with prominent spine, apical part longitudinally rugose. Style with apophysis of type 2. Aedeagus in lateral view broadest in basal 0.33 then narrowed more strongly on dorsal margin, ventral margin uniformly curved in basal half then rather straight, dorsal margin beyond middle serrated with short transverse ridges and furrows; in caudal view aedeagus slightly broadened and narrowed to rounded apex.

Female genitalia: Hind margin of seventh sternite inverted V-shaped, medially dark and translucent.

Measurements: Male 10.5 mm long, 2.40 mm wide across eyes, 2.84 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum. Female 11.80 mm long, 2.50 mm wide across eyes, 3.20 mm wide across hind margin of pronotum.

Material examined: Sri Lanka: Lectotype ď, labeled “Pundaloya, Ceylon ” “ Ceylon Green Coll. 90–115” [both printed], “63” [handwritten], labelled figured specimen, here designated. Paralectotype ď, data as for lectotype; paralectotype Ψ, data as for lectotype with “ Gypona striata Kb. Type ” (hand written on reverse of Green Coll. Label) (all BMNH).

Remarks: This species resembles Krisna varia sp. nov. (see below). However, the spine on the ventral pygophore process in K. kirbyi arises on widened base and its base is clearly delimited compared to that in varia ; the apophysis of style in K. kirbyi is of type 2 but K. varia has apophysis of style of type 1. A female from Sri Lanka, Maskeliya (BMNH) may be this species. Its head has similar markings but is slightly more produced. The posterior margin of its seventh sternum is slightly concave medially, and the lateral angles are triangularly produced. The female paralectotype may be a different species as the head lacks markings and is less acute in lateral view. Its seventh sternite is very distinctive, its caudal half is translucent, and the hind margin deeply excavated, V-shaped.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 31. Species of Krisna. 20 – 26. Head and thorax, profile: 20. K. magna Baker, from Malaysia; 21. K. strigicollis (Spinola); 22. K. bakeri sp. nov.; 23. K. megha sp. nov. 24. K. raja sp. nov.; 25. K. varia sp. nov.; 26. K. walayari sp. nov.; 27 – 31. Female seventh sterna: 27. K. megha; 28. K. kirbyi (Kirkaldy); 29. K. strigicollis; 30. K. bakeri; 31. K. varia.

FIGURES 60 – 64. Male Krisna kirbyi (Kirkaldy). 60. Genitalia, lateral view; 61. Ventral pygophore process; 62. Apex of apophysis of style (type 2); 63. Connective; 64. Aedeagus, lateral view.